Hi everyone!
The schools I’m really hoping to get into DO NOT require the SAT essay. However, I still took that portion of the test, and thus am required to send the schools my SAT essay score along with my test score.
Harvey Mudd is my top choice.
My SAT score is a 1450/1600, 780 math, 670 verbal. I took the test once in March.
Ugh…but my essay score is an absolutely terrible 15/24.
I go to one of the top schools in the US and have a 3.98 GPA while taking classes such as AP Literature, Honors Humanities, and AP Lang.
Do you think I should be worried about my essay?
The essay score is broken down in an 8/8/8 (Reading, Analysis, Writing) format. Could you let us know what the score was in that structure because it will help us evaluate it.
For example 6/4/5 is not ideal, but not as bad as a 6/6/3.
For Harvey Mudd, your essay score would not be a concern. The admissions director told me that they would still see the essay score, but it rarely comes into play. They realize that students do not do their best writing during timed standardized testing. In past years even when the essay was required, it was only considered for about 6 cases per year, usually for international students. As far as the other scores go, last year’s middle 50% scores for Mudd were 680-780 CR, 740-800 M, 670-760 W. They are using College Board’s concordance to compare scores.
Your 5s indicate that one of the scorers placed your essay in the 3 range which is considered a solid essay, while the other scorer gave it a 2 which is a weak essay. The universities are not focusing on the essay because of this type of inconsistency in the scoring. There should be a clear delineation between a 2 and a 3 essay.
Essentially the essay is good enough, and if the essay for those schools is optional, the schools will just disregard it as being an anomaly rather than a true indicator of your abilities.
Thank you for the replies and help. So, my scores seem to be in the range for harvey Mudd where the 25% is a 2080
My 1450 converted is a 2080. I also don’t think the concordance tables will be very accurate when comparing scores at the admissions office. I took the SAT in March and my total score on the national scale is in the 97th percentile which is not a 2080 on the old sat. My SAT score is definitely the weak part of my application. I’m relying more on my extra curriculars and my GPA which is a 3.99 unweighted and the scores aren’t inflated because I go to one of the hardest schools in the nation. I’m hoping this will help. @StillLotsToLearn
I would just make sure to make sure your application essays are very strong. 
I took the new SAT the same date as you did and got a 790 verbal but 16/24 on the essay. So weird.